Reinforcing spacer for installing latchsets in hollow doors



June 1960 E. 2.. SCHLAGE ETAL 2,940,293

REINFORCING SPACER FOR. INSTALLING LATCHSETS IN HOLLOW DOORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1958 ER/VEST g c ificf BYJOHN HENRY BRAUE/V A T TORNE VS June 1960 E. L. SCHLAGE ETAL 2,940,293

REINFORCING SPACER FOR INSTALLING LATCHSETS IN HOLLOW DOORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1958 R ERNEST 1T 503L265 JOHN HENRY BRAUEN ATTORNEYS June 14, 1960 E. L. SCHLAGE ET AL 2,940,293

REINFORCING SPACER FOR INSTALLING LATCHSETS IN HOLLOW DOORS Filed May 8, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIE u a w 4 3 INVENTORS ERNEST L. SCHLAGE JOHN HENRY BRAUE/V W frllzk ZA'Jnrvl ATTORNEYS United States Patent ice REINFORCING SPACERFOR INSTALLING LATCHSE'IS 1N HOLLOW noons Ernest L. Schlag'e, Burlingame, and John Henry Brauen, Brisbane, Calif., assignors to Schlage Lock Company, a corporation 'Filed May 8, 1958, Ser. No. 734,001

9 Claims. (Cl. 70 -451) This invention relates to latchsets and particularly to tubular latchsets employed with hollow doors; V

In the conventional tubular latchset or lockset installation the latch actuating mechanism is mounted on the door by means of a pair of clamping plates which are usually pulled together by clamping screws. In tightening the clamping screws an appreciable compressive load is applied to the door which, solid, is usually sufi'iciently strong to resist such load. However, in'the case of metal doors, that are usually hollow, the clamp ing load deflects the opposed door panels inwardly to an objectionable degree. Although a reinforcing frame or spacer may be secured between the door panels during fabrication of the door, the proper locationof such spacer may not be determined until after the door'is installed since such location depends upon the lockset employed. Furthermore, in many instances, it is desirable to be able to install a new latchset or lock in a difierent location after the door has been in use. i

The main object of the present invention is therefore the provision of a reinforcing frame or spacer between the opposite panels of a hollow door that may be installed after the door has been fabricated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a spacer for reinforcing a hollow door adjacent the latchbolt and which spacer serves as a support for the latch bolt housing.

Still another object is the provision of an extremely Other objects and advantages will be apparenttro the drawings and from the specification.

Fig. l is an exploded perspective of a fragmentary pgrtion of a door showing the invention in Me between the door panels and also showing the clamping means for securing the latch actuating mechanism in place together with the latch bolt unit. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective of one of the two elements comprising the spacer of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the assembled spacer,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the spacer.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the spacer expanded.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the spacer of Fig. 5

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the spacer of Fig.5 showing another method of assembly.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the spacer of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a vertical'cross section through a hollow door showing the invention in place in a completed latchset installation.

' In detail, and with reference to Figs. land 9,, the wi vention is adapted to be employed in a hollow door having a pair of spaced apart door panels 1,2, and an edge 3 joining said panels.

" A hole 4 is drilled in the edge 3 for receiving therethrough the latch bolt unit generally designated-5. Circular openings 6, 7 are provided in panels '1, 2, for re- 2,940,293 e e med June e19, 960

ceiving therethrough thelatch bolt actuating mechanism of whatever designis employed. In Figs. 11,; 9, a simple form of mechanism isshown v.whichincludesa pair-10f posts 16, 17 provided with screws 18 which'cooperate with holes 19 in clamping plate 11 for tightening the plates 11, 12 against'the oppositely outwardly directed sides of panels 1, 2. Details of' this clampingmechanism ,are disclosed .in- U.S. Patent No. 2,804,334. Thematic- :ular structure employed forms no part-of the :instantjnvention and maytake any ,form so long .as clamping means is provided. The invention comprises .a pair of identical elements A, B respectively, one of which is shown in v.deta'il in Fig. 2. Each element may be of sheet metal and is substantially U-shaped and comprises a pair of opposed parallel sides 23, 24 connected together by an end portion 25 at right angles to sides 23, 24.

Side 23 is formed with an outwardly opening recess 26 which is semicircular at. its inner end as indicated :at 2-7. Recess 26 thus forms a pair of parallel legs 28, 29 on side 23 extending at right angles to connecting portion 25. Leg 28 is formed to provide an elongated slot 32 and leg 29 is provided with a pair of projections 33, 34, struck outwardly from the sheet metal of side 23.

Side 24 is similarly formed with an outwardly opening recess 35 including a semic cular por .61m als includes a pair of legs 38 39 identical to legs 28, .29 respectively. Leg 38 is provided with an elongated slot 42 and leg 39 carries a pair of project-ions 4 3, 44. Although sides 23, 24 are similar in'construction, it will be noted that legs 28, 38 which are provided with slate a diagonally a d as areles .1 9 whic ar provided t p ojecti s BY h s a a e nt elemen 5 y e a le w t el m A so h e si e 23, 24 of'element B are slidably received between the .-.m y be s a ed Wi hin 0; 2 a s de 24 e emen idi oveme 9f eme t 13 wa 19m elemen i limited b e a em n 9 limita n 3 4,3 o elemen B with t ut en s o l s 2 42 at a remot from e P i 2 n element A- Since the two elements A, B are identical it obviouely makes no differencewhichelement is received the other to accomplish the desired result,

In Fig. 4 there is indicated-schematically by means of dot-dash circle 47 the extent of holes 6, 7 in panels 1, 2, respectively. When the spacer A, B is in the collapsed form of Figs. 3, 4, it will be noted that its lateral 'eatent is so reduced that it maybe passed through eaid holes. However, when it is expanded to the position of Figs.- 6 it is of suflicient lateral extent to extend beyond the sidewalls of holes 6, 7. Thus when the spacer A, B is received w e pan s 1. nd ex n e as show i Fig. 9 with the sides 23, 24 and end portions 25 at right angles to door-panels 1 2,s a i dspacer spaces apart said panels a d sts t e ompre siv ad. pli d o. panels ring the nstallati n of the a y et. It u lb understood of c u se tha t e len t Qt and po ons 2 a d sides 3. equa in the, aaeinabe weeapanel a 24 are provided withcoplanar extensions 48 which form outwardly directed shoulders 49. The position of shoulders49 is predetermined so that when the device is almost completely expanded to the form shown in'Figs. 5, 6 usardshoulders 'abut the radiallyinwardly directed surface obthe adjacent hole 6 orf7l Becauseof the symmetry i-of l'element's A; B,the spacer is thus positioned coaxial g'wrththeholes 6, ,7. 7 i V t .The method ofinstalling the spacer as followsz the ,w spacer collapsed to the position of Fig. 4 and inserted ithrough eltherhole Ger 7 in thedo'o'rpanels 1, 2. The

user may then reach into the spacer from'opposite sides oithefdoorand expand 'the device by means of two i fingerstofthe position-oi Fi'gs. 6,39; Very little care is -reqt 1 1red. to insure that all eight shoulders 49'abut the :gradially mwardly directed isurfaces of holes 6, 7. r The E ;tlius se n-tenses in place against movement in Toremoye the spacer it is merely-necessary to rotate to a positionwiththeside's 23, 24 horizontal and:w 1th the end porti'cin 25 of one eleinentadjacentilatch v bolt ope'mng 4 in 'edge '3. .Theuser may then reach' @through hole 4r'anid pushon such adjacent end portion to collapse thespacen In this "connection it will be noted "that the shoulders 49 engaging-the sides of holes 6,-7 that resenters-from edge} will resist movement of the adjabent element thus permitting the other element'to he slidnblyrhbved 'tocollapse the spacer; 1 When the'spacer is fihllsi collapsed it may be renioved' through either of the holes ,17; 1 r

p It-will'be seen EoniFig. 5 that'the semicircular portions, 2 7"on'- sides 23 of elements A, B cooperate to :form a a 1 c rcular opening'27 and similarly the semicircular portions provide a hollow spacer extending bet'ween and in engagement at its opposite ends with the opposed inner surfacesof'said panels, said elements being supported for movement" toward eac'hgotherj'to' collapsefsaid spacer laterally to a lateral extent less than the extent of said openings to permit passing said spacer through one of said openingsQand expandableto alateral extent greater than the extent of said openings to'permit said spacer to be expanded; into spacing relationship with said panels when it is between the latter. 2. A reinforcing member for a hollow door having a 7 pair of spaced apart panels each provided with an'openanyidirection excep tatha't the 'spacermay 'be rota ted'about 1ts.- ax1 s' with theshoulde'rs'49 sliding'on the radially in-"-' ewardly 'directed surface of holes- 6; 7.;

ing, said openings being coaxial and'adapted to receive a latchiactuatin'g mechanism'therethrough, said member comprising: a pair of interengaging elements assembled toprovide a hollow spacer extending between and in engagement at its opposite ends withthe opposed inner "surfacesof said panels," said elements being supported *for movement toward each other to-collapse said spacer laterally to a lateral 'extent'less than the extent of said Sopcnings to permit passing said spacer through one of said openings, and expandableto a lateral extent greater 136 on "sides 24 cooperate-to form a' similar opening 36.

bestlseen in Eigs.fl, 9, said openings 27, 36 are arranged in planes parallel to theedge 3 of the door when, {the spacer is installed as above deseribed, Said openings are predetermined in sizfelso that'the'housing of the latch, -l unit's snuglyreceived' within the same when said latch 7 limit is inserted through opening! in edge 3. It will be points o f support'and'if the axes of openings 6 7 and jppening dare coplanargfa's they should be,f{the openings 47,; automaticallyipbsition -thelatch unit 5 ion the de- LV V V Q Qwfi IQ -Q Y AG JI a m 9 the latch ;-bolt*unit; and the actuating mechanismisthus insured and T e r;

7 'Th assess s ams? reassures oas tharii-tha'tshownin Fi'gs.:3,lj4. For example, instead of 1' "'placin'gboth sides 23,724 erase element between the sides "'of'the'otherelementzso thatwe: senor; projections do not function, an arrangement such asshown in Figs. ;7,-8 4233 employed In'this case,'leg 29"of elementBis I agairi placed-insideleg 28 of element'A'but leg 28 of element is placed outside leg 29 of element'A'; Similarly slde ZfIof eIement'Bfislarranged with its legs 58, 39 inside andoutsiderespectively of the correspondinglegs the'knobfrom being transferred toftne hemorrhages;

i "Very description "of-the preferredtembodintent of the invention is'not to'be taken restricti e f angles to said -therethroughr a jing, said openings being coaxial-and adapted to receive thanthe extent of said openings to permit said spacer "to be expanded into spacing relationship with said panels when it is between the latter, said elements cooperating when expanded-to form an opening in a plane atright panels for snugly receiving a latch unit A reinforcingmember for-a hollow door havinga pair of spaced apart panels'each provided with an opena latch actuating mechanism therethrough, said member comprising: a pair of interengagin'g elements assembled to provideahollow spacer extending between and in @apparent that saidp-latch'unit is "thus; provided with three f openings-to permit passing saidspacerpthrough one of I engagement at'its oppositeends with the opposed inner surfaces of said panels, said elements being supported I-for movementtoward'each other to collapsesaid spacer laterally to a lateral extent less than the extent of said said openings and expandable tora lateral extent greater than the extent of said openingsfto'permit saidlspacer' *1 to be expanded into spacing relationship with said-panels when it is between the latter, said elements being formed with shoulders adapted to engage the radially inwardly directed surface of one of said openingswhensaid spacer is expanded for positioning said spacer-in a'vertical direction.

' 4; A reinforcing member for a hollow door having a 7 of spaced apart panels each provided with an opening, saidt-openings bei'ng 'coaxial and adapted to receive a latch actuating mechanism therethrough, said member comprising: a pairfof "interengaging elements assembled to provide'a h'ollow spacer' extending between and in engagement at its opposite ends with'the opposed 'inner surfaces of said'panel s,*said= 'elements beingsupportcd for'movement toward each other to collapse said' spacer laterally to a" lateral extent less than the extent of said openings, to permit passing said spacer through one of "said openings; and expandable to a lateral extentsg'reater the inyentioifasiit is obvious thagvarious modifications in w aim; 1

than the extent of said openings to permit said spacer to be expanded' intospacing relationship withtsaid panels whefiit is between the' lattergsaid "elements cooperating when-exapanded'to form an opening'in'. a'plane-vatright angles to saidpanels 'for' snugly receiving alatch unit "adapted toerigag'ethe'radially inwardly directedjsurface '-f f; one of said' openings when; said --spacer.-islexpanded "iunit receivingopeningfwhen in engagement with said therethrou'gh, fsaid "elements" being formed with shoulders surface whereby said latch unit is supported with its axis intersecting the axis of said panel openings.

5. A reinforcing member for a hollow door having a pair of spaced apart panels each provided with an opening, said openings being coaxial and adapted to receive a latch actuating mechanism therethrough, said member comprising: a pair of interengaging elements assembled to provide a hollow spacer extending between and in engagement at its opposite ends with the opposed inner surfaces of said panels, said elements being supported for movement toward each other to collapse said spacer laterally to a lateral extent less than the extent of said openings to permit passing said spacer through one of said openings, and expandable to a lateral extent greater than the extent of said openings to permit said spacer to be expanded into spacing relationship with said panels when it is between the latter, each of said elements being substantially U-shaped with the opposed sides of one of said elements slidably engaging the opposed sides of the other element to form a generally rectangular hollow spacer.

6. A reinforcing member for a hollow door having a pair of spaced apart panels each provided with an opening, said openings being coaxial and adapted to receive a latch actuating mechanism therethrough, said member comprising: a pair of interengaging elements assembled to provide a hollow spacer extending between and in engagement at its opposite ends with the opposed inner surfaces of said panels, said elements being supported for movement toward each other to collapse said spacer laterally to a lateral extent less than the extent of said openings to permit passing said spacer through one of said openings, and expandable to a lateral extent greater than the extent of said openings to permit said spacer to be expanded into spacing relationship with said panels when it is between the latter, each of said elements being substantially U-shaped with the opposed sides of one of said elements slidably engaging the opposed sides of the other element to form a generally rectangular hollow spacer, and stop means on said sides for limiting sliding movement of said elements toward and away from each other.

7. A reinforcing member for a hollow door having a pair of spaced apart panels each provided with an opening, said openings being coaxial and adapted to receive a latch actuating mechanism therethrough, said member comprising: a pair of interengaging elements assembled to provide a hollow spacer extending between and in engagement at its opposite ends with the opposed inner surfaces of said panels, said elements being supported for movement toward each other to collapse said spacer laterally to a lateral extent less than the extent of said openings to permit passing said spacer through one of said openings, and expandable to a lateral extent greater than the extent of said openings to permit said spacer to be expanded into spacing relationship with said panels when it is between the latter, each of said elements being substantially U-shaped with the opposed sides of one of said elements slidably engaging the opposed sides of the other element to form a generally rectangular hollow spacer, one pair of the engaging sides of said elements being each formed with an outwardly opening recess cooperating to form an opening in said spacer in a plane at right angles to said panels for snugly receiving a latch unit therethrough.

8. A reinforcing member for a hollow door having a pair of spaced panels provided with coaxial openings adjacent the edge of said door for receiving a latch actuating mechanism therethrough, and provided with an opening in said edge for receiving a latch unit therethrough with the axes of said mechanism and said unit in intersecting relationship, said member comprising: a pair of similar substantially U-shaped elements each provided with a pair of opposed sides and an end portion connecting said sides, said elements being slidably mounted relative to each other with the sides of one element in sliding engagement with the corresponding sides of the other element to form a generally rectangular hollow spacer engageable at its opposite ends with the opposed inner surfaces of said panels, said elements being slidable toward each other to collapse said spacer to permit passage of the same through one of said panel openings and slidable away from each other to expand said spacer to a cross sectional extent greater than the extent of said panel openings to permit said spacer to be positioned coaxial with said openings and in spacing relationship with said panels.

9. A reinforcing member for a hollow door having a pair of spaced panels provided with coaxial openings adjacent the edge of said door for receiving a latch actuating mechanism therethrough, and provided with an opening in said edge for receiving a latch unit therethrough with the axes of said mechanism and said unit in intersecting relationship, said member comprising: a pair of similar substantially U-shaped elements each provided with a pair of opposed sides and an end portion connecting said sides, said elements being slidably mounted relative to each other with the sides of one element in sliding engagement with the corresponding sides of the other element to form a generally rectangular hollow spacer engageable at its opposite ends with the opposed inner surfaces of said panels, said elements being slidable toward each other to collapse said spacer to permit passage of the same through one of said panel openings and slidable away from each other to expand said spacer to a cross sectional extent greater than the extent of said panel openings to permit said spacer to be positioned coaxial with said openings and in spacing relationship with said panels, said sides being provided with shoulders adapted to engage the radially inwardly directed surface of one of said panel openings for limiting the expansion of said spacer and for positioning the latter vertically.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,981,289 Schlage Nov. 20, 1934 2,091,248 Schlage Aug. 24, 1937 2,779,186 Grevengoed et a1. J an. 29, 1957 

